Newsletter 7 - December 2007 - Lochaber High School

Remembrance Weekend
The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month once again gave
everyone an opportunity to contemplate and acknowledge sacrifices of the past
made for the freedom of generations of the future including our own. This year the
eleventh fell on Remembrance Sunday. Many years ago a unique association was
forged and has remained steadfast between the Commando Association, (since
2005, the Commando Veterans Association) and Lochaber High School.
As has become customary during the preceding week, sixth years sold the elegantly
simple and symbolic poppies throughout the school. By Friday the eighty or so
Commando veterans had started to arrive in Lochaber, a place of special significance for them, to participate in the
events surrounding the annual act of remembrance. Friday afternoon therefore has traditionally become the kick-off
for the weekend with as many as possible being invited to a special “Commando Concert” in the school. On arrival at
Lochaber High, they were greeted by members of the school community and joined us in the Main Hall. The
Lochaber Schools Wind Band, Lochaber Schools Pipe Band as well as the school’s Burke and Hare Orchestra and
Chorus entertained this year, providing a very successful and varied programme culminating with the ‘Sands of
Kuwait’. During the concert the chairman of the Association, currently Stan Scott, gave a short, entertaining and
encouraging address presenting Commando Award certificates to Sammi Jenkins and Carolyn McKee. Mr. Sutherland
was presented with the Commando Trophy and Mr Whyte a framed photograph in recognition and with thanks for
the special links maintained between the Commandos and the School. Following the concert the Wind Band’s parent
committee provided afternoon tea in the small canteen for visitors and participants alike, enabling the veterans an
important opportunity to talk about their experiences of war and reminisce with the pupils involved in the concert.
Remembrance Sunday proved to be a chilly but bright day. In Fort William the Lochaber Schools Pipe Band was
privileged to lead the parade as the march of past and present members of the armed forces including Commandos,
two companies of Royal Marines and local cadet forces passed through the town to The Parade. After observing the
two-minute silence, wreaths were laid at the war memorial. This year S6 pupils, Emma McKillop and James Barbour
laid one on behalf of the School. Following the special service in the Duncansburgh MacIntosh Church the Pipe and
Wind Bands enjoyed a welcome lunch provided by the Council before heading to Spean Bridge. Again the Lochaber
Schools Pipe Band was very proud to lead the march up to the Commando Monument for the afternoon act of
remembrance. The Lochaber Schools Wind Band provided the music for this moving service. Both the Wind Band and
the Pipe Band played in this exposed spot making the endurance of war and the losses sustained in conflict just a
little more poignant. Having taken an active part in this weekend of remembrance for six years in the Wind Band and
more recently also in the Pipe Band it will impact on my memory as a very privileged and unique connection between
our education here in Lochaber and the breadth of conflict across the world, challenging us, as the new generation,
with the responsibility to strive for peace, understanding and positive relationships between nations and people
everywhere.
Rebecca Leeson-Payne 6N
Young Engineers
Our Young Engineers Club was recently reinstated after a one year gap. At the start of
the first term the club moved their collection of apparatus to the balcony area in the
wood workshop, where they now meet every Wednesday afternoon.
The club is currently working on a national competition—The Royal Navy Challenge. This year’s brief is to design a
remote controlled floating vessel which has to retrieve packages from the bottom of a simulation tank and take them
back to shore. Three teams will soon be submitting their design folios for stage one of the competition.
There are plans for exciting new projects and experiments in the New Year. If you’d like to find out more, please
contact Mr Cameron or Mr MacNeil in the Technical Department or come along on a Wednesday afternoon.